STP Summer Nationals 2019

Santa Pod Raceway STP Summer Nationals.

The STP addition to the event name came from the welcomed announcement before the event by Santa Pod Raceway of a brand-new partnership with the well-known oil giants. STP will also be the main sponsor for the remainder of the 2019 National series which are the STP Green Light Nationals in August and the STP Nationals Finals at the end of September.

The headline class of the event was Motorsport Pro Modified. Although the numbers were down a little due to the absence of regulars like Andy Robinson and Bert Englefield, the entry of 8 that were attending put on a fantastic show. The times weren’t as quick as the FIA Main Event a month earlier but the racing was just as close and equally thrilling. At the end of qualifying on Saturday, Marck Harteveld in his 1970 Plymouth Superbird was top of the pile at 5.979 / 239.85mph. Britain’s Kevin Slyfield was close behind but still just shy of that 5-second run he’s wanted so long at 6.035 / 234.82mph. Long-distance traveller Jean Dulamon from the South of France had previously run a fantastic PB of 6.057 on Friday’s practice day was third at 6.137 / 231.24mphWhilst racing Wayne Nicolson in eliminations round one, Kev Slyfield and the Blown Bird team finally got the number they have worked so hard for when a 5.961 / 236.17 mph came up on the scoreboards. Kev made it all the way to the final where he faced Marck Harteveld, who had run flawlessly all weekend in the other half of the ladder. On the money run, it was Marck who just took the win with a 6.041 /238.60mph over Kev’s, 6.224/ 231.68mph. Kev took some extra points for the low elapsed time of the event with his 5.961 as did Marc Top with his top speed of the event: 241.83 mph. Which was also a new PB for the popular Dutch racing team

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator was all Andy Bond. Not only did he win the event but on the way, he powered the “Ugly Sister” Chevy to a 6.999 seconds lap which gave him the honour of the first car in Street Eliminator to run in the sixes with treaded tyres and in street-legal trim. He also clocked a huge 210.92 mph to give him the terminal speed record as well.

Steve Johnson had some drama in the Hydrahose/Alders Automatics Super Pro ET class. In eliminations on Sunday the wheelie bar broke on launch on his “MotorMouse” slingshot, sending him sky bound. Steve got off the throttle before the dragster went right over but that didn’t stop it coming back down to earth with a big thud. Steve suffered some back damaged but will thankfully be okay.

The meeting had some first-time class winners in Jordan Payne’s who took the Secret Worx Comp Eliminator title in the “Sticky Situation” Chevrolet Corvette. Andy Dibley’s won Super Gas in Jon Morton’s old car. Jon also sponsored the class and was helping Andy out. Finally, Paul Saroch won VW sportsman in his VW golf.

Results

Motorsport UK Pro Modified: Marck Harteveld
Secret Worx Comp Eliminator: Jordan Payne
Hydrahose/Alders Automatics Super Pro ET: Brad Jackson
Modurstang Pro ET: Neil Hunter
Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET: Dan Holloway
Phoenix Personnel Super Comp: Leah Kellett
Jon Morton Super Gas Shootout: Andy Dibley
Lucas Oil Junior Dragster: Matthew Dowdy
Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator: Andy Bond
VW Pro: Graham Fairhead
VW Sportsman: Paul Saroch
Wild Bunch: Phil James
Outlaw Anglia: Simon Barlow
NEM Plant Ltd Nostalgia Super Stock: Rick Denny